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Original poster

Child ear piercing gone wrong - help me with what to say

416 replies

formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:30

DD8 had ears pierced today at Claire’s. All went fine, until we got home and she said “my earring has fallen out” and after initially telling her that was impossible l looked, and sure enough there was no earring in right ear. She hadn’t fiddled with them in the 3 hours they had been pierced and we got home, and I found the earring itself in the hood of her coat, no sign of the back so assume it was loose from start and is still somewhere in the shopping centre.
she was very upset, obviously, as she’s 8 and was panicking due to some blood around hole. I called Claire’s and explained what happened, the lady I spoke to sounded very shocked and said she had never had this happen and she needed to call her senior. She called back to say they were very sorry, that it must have been a fault with the earring (though it looks fine) and all that can be done is to leave it a week to heal over and they will pierce it again and as an apology not make me pay again!

I was too shocked to really process it other than to say that I didn’t think she’d want to come back there given she’d been brave to get it done in the first place and was now very upset, and said I had to go as had a very upset little girl to sort out but Could someone senior get back to me. That didn’t happen by the end of the day.

what do I do now? Contact head office? I spent £68 on good quality piercing earrings and about £15 on the piercing aftercare which for me is a lot but it was a special occasion that has gone really wrong. I’d like a refund because I feel I’ve paid for a service that has been poor (be it the fault of the equipment, or staff not checking the back was secure). My daughter is upset she only has one earring (fair enough) and I will try and encourage her to get it re-done elsewhere but right now there’s no way she’d agree to being pierced again.

I don’t write very well- could someone help me word an email and what I should say/ask for? I mainly want to stop this happening to someone other child but I’d also like my money back, not just free new piercing which can’t be goof
for her ear after a week? ☹️

thank you X

OP posts:
Original poster
formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:31

*good for her ear

OP posts:
WinterBones · 15/02/2025 20:35

At this point, as someone with multiple piercings, i'd take both out, let them heal, deal with the disappointment, and allow her to get them re-done in a couple of years.

SheRaaPrincessOfPower · 15/02/2025 20:36

I'd go back if you can, with your proof of payment and say 'as you know, unfortunately the earring that Claire's pierced Jane's ear with was faulty and as a result of that Jane hasn't got her ears pierced. I know you said on the phone when you said that the earring must have been faulty that you would be able to repierce the ear but that's not what we want. I'd like a full refund'.

SoScarletItWas · 15/02/2025 20:37

I think you have two things to fix:

Firstly can you not get the earring back in DD’s ear? Even a different pure metal one to hold the piercing open while it heals? It can’t close over in a matter of hours, surely?

And secondly yes, the complaint to Claire’s. I would ring back tomorrow as you didn’t hear from the senior person today. And then follow up with an email stating that the earring hadn’t been fitted properly and requesting the refund. Agree with PP above that either the process/service was not adequate or earring itself was faulty.

Original poster
formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:37

WinterBones · 15/02/2025 20:35

At this point, as someone with multiple piercings, i'd take both out, let them heal, deal with the disappointment, and allow her to get them re-done in a couple of years.

Will taking the other one out hurt now? She’s still upset and reluctant to let me near her ears after this. I’ve never had my ears pierced so not sure how sore this will be to take out a new piercing?

OP posts:
Original poster
formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:38

SheRaaPrincessOfPower · 15/02/2025 20:36

I'd go back if you can, with your proof of payment and say 'as you know, unfortunately the earring that Claire's pierced Jane's ear with was faulty and as a result of that Jane hasn't got her ears pierced. I know you said on the phone when you said that the earring must have been faulty that you would be able to repierce the ear but that's not what we want. I'd like a full refund'.

This sounds so concise, thank you

OP posts:
FTHC · 15/02/2025 20:39

I would ask for a refund, take the other one out. Once they've healed find a reputable piercer to redo them when your DD feels ready.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 15/02/2025 20:39

give the staff a couple of days to get back to you, then go to the shop and ask for a refund.
If it was done today, will the earring go back in? if you can get one of the flexible rubber earring backs, these generally fit onto any earring, this would save the piercing.

Original poster
formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:39

SoScarletItWas · 15/02/2025 20:37

I think you have two things to fix:

Firstly can you not get the earring back in DD’s ear? Even a different pure metal one to hold the piercing open while it heals? It can’t close over in a matter of hours, surely?

And secondly yes, the complaint to Claire’s. I would ring back tomorrow as you didn’t hear from the senior person today. And then follow up with an email stating that the earring hadn’t been fitted properly and requesting the refund. Agree with PP above that either the process/service was not adequate or earring itself was faulty.

I tried but it was bleeding a lot and such a tiny hole I couldn’t see it what I was doing, it clearly was hurting her and she was so distressed we gave up after about half an hour.

OP posts:
fruitandbarley · 15/02/2025 20:39

I would insist on a full refund, let them heal then go to an actual tattoo/piecing shop with a good reputation.

OrlandointheWilderness · 15/02/2025 20:39

SoScarletItWas · 15/02/2025 20:37

I think you have two things to fix:

Firstly can you not get the earring back in DD’s ear? Even a different pure metal one to hold the piercing open while it heals? It can’t close over in a matter of hours, surely?

And secondly yes, the complaint to Claire’s. I would ring back tomorrow as you didn’t hear from the senior person today. And then follow up with an email stating that the earring hadn’t been fitted properly and requesting the refund. Agree with PP above that either the process/service was not adequate or earring itself was faulty.

I wouldn't assume it will still be open after a few hours - I had mine done last year, took them out for 6 hours after a ball and couldn't get them back in. They'd been done 14 months at that point!!

Mischance · 15/02/2025 20:39

I know you will be pissed off with my judgmental comment, but 8 is really too young to be doing this at all.

As another poster has said - take them out and let them heal, then wait till she is older to try again. In the meantime go and get your money back.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 15/02/2025 20:39

I think you need to force a replacement earring into the hole now before it closes up (as in right now) or let it fully heal up before trying again. By fully heal I mean 6 months. I think Claire idea (waiting a week, for it to heal slightly) is a horrible half way house with the worst of both worlds

CaroIus · 15/02/2025 20:39

The drama 🤣🤣🤣

Just disinfect the earring and put it back in.

WinterBones · 15/02/2025 20:40

SoScarletItWas · 15/02/2025 20:37

I think you have two things to fix:

Firstly can you not get the earring back in DD’s ear? Even a different pure metal one to hold the piercing open while it heals? It can’t close over in a matter of hours, surely?

And secondly yes, the complaint to Claire’s. I would ring back tomorrow as you didn’t hear from the senior person today. And then follow up with an email stating that the earring hadn’t been fitted properly and requesting the refund. Agree with PP above that either the process/service was not adequate or earring itself was faulty.

a brand new piercing will absolutely close within a few hours unfortunately :/ enough that it would hurt to get the post back through.

OP it depends how tightly the back is on, but if you are careful it should come off, it might hurt taking it out, but i think leaving it in would be worse.

As an extra bit, a little too late, please take her to a proper piercer next time, those guns that claires use are brutal and shouldn't be anywhere near anyones ears.
Piercings should be done with a needle, not a gun.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 15/02/2025 20:40

these backs - theyre flexible

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 15/02/2025 20:40

Pierce it again?! Claire’s is fucking awful for ear piercing, they should not be allowed to do it.

Go to Claire’s, get your money back and go to a reputable piercing studio for their help and advice

Original poster
formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:41

Thank you so much, had no idea Claire’s wasn’t a reputable piercer. Lesson horribly learned, just wish it was my ear not her’s ☹️

OP posts:
SoScarletItWas · 15/02/2025 20:41

@formula3 fair enough, it’s decades since I had a piercing so I’ve forgotten! No, I appreciate you would have stopped after that time.

StormingNorman · 15/02/2025 20:42

OrlandointheWilderness · 15/02/2025 20:39

I wouldn't assume it will still be open after a few hours - I had mine done last year, took them out for 6 hours after a ball and couldn't get them back in. They'd been done 14 months at that point!!

Show quote history

Same. Mine have been pierced for decades and as I don’t wear earrings often, I have to re-pierce them every time as the back heals over.

MumChp · 15/02/2025 20:42

Put an ear ring in. Not big deal.

Original poster
formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:42

I thought 8 was old enough to be pierced, I didn’t know it was too young. Is there an age when this is less likely to happen or is it just a rotten luck one off?

OP posts:
Carpetqueen · 15/02/2025 20:43

My daughter got her ear pierced at Claire’s in August and one hole never healed. Months later it was still sore. We had to take the earring out permanently.

Completelyjo · 15/02/2025 20:43

They still pierced the ear. The back falling off and your daughter losing the earring is hardly their fault. I think them offering to repierce is more than generous and I don’t think you really have an argument for a refund.

WinterBones · 15/02/2025 20:43

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 15/02/2025 20:40

Pierce it again?! Claire’s is fucking awful for ear piercing, they should not be allowed to do it.

Go to Claire’s, get your money back and go to a reputable piercing studio for their help and advice

^this.

if you can find a local proper piercing studio they will give you much more professional and trustworthy advice.

The girls at claires get little training on using those gun, and the literally punch the rod through the ears (they shatter cartilage) whereas a proper piercer will use a proper needle and take thorough care.

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